1997 Primus 1000 Classic
# 1997 Primus 1000 Classic

The 1997 Primus 1000 Classic was a 1000 kilometre endurance race for V8 Supercars, staged at the Mount Panorama Circuit just outside Bathurst in New South Wales, Australia on 19 October 1997.

It was the inaugural "1000 Classic" race, created in response to the desire of V8 Supercar organisers AVESCO to compete at the popular Mount Panorama Circuit outside of the traditional Bathurst 1000 event, as AVESCO were in conflict with the Bathurst 1000 organisers, the Australian Racing Drivers' Club. While many attempts were made to broker a peace between the two bodies, there was a fundamental chasm over the issue of television coverage with AVESCO holding a series contract with Network Ten and the ARDC holding a contract with the Seven Network. The impasse was solved when Bathurst City Council negotiated a deal with AVESCO for a separate race, to be held two weeks after the 1997 AMP Bathurst 1000, which subsequently went ahead with a field of Australian and British Super Touring cars.

The 1997 Primus 1000 Classic was won by Larry Perkins and Russell Ingall driving a Holden Commodore (VS).

## Entry list and class structure

### Class structure

**Level 1**

These were the full-time professional teams, aiming to win the race outright and holders of a 'Level 1' V8 Supercar franchise.

**Special Level 1**

The smaller, part-time 'Level 2' teams, who wished to run on the tyres of their own choosing.

**Level 2**

The smaller, part-time 'Level 2' teams, running on a Dunlop control tyre of lower, cheaper specification.

### Entry list

| No. | Class | Drivers | Team (Sponsors) | Car | No. | Class | Drivers | Team (Sponsors) | Car |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | L1 | Glenn Seton David Parsons | Glenn Seton Racing (Ford Credit) | Ford Falcon EL | 28 | L2 | Kevin Waldock John Smith | Playscape Racing (CBS Drill & Blast) | Ford Falcon EF |
| 3 | S1 | Steve Reed Trevor Ashby | Lansvale Smash Repairs (Dulux ICI Autocolor) | Holden Commodore VS | 33 | L2 | Bob Pearson Allan McCarthy | Pro-Duct Motorsport (Pro-Duct Air Conditioning) | Holden Commodore VS |
| 05 | L1 | Peter Brock Mark Skaife | Holden Racing Team (Holden, Mobil 1) | Holden Commodore VS | 34 | L1 | Steven Richards Jim Richards | Garry Rogers Motorsport (Valvoline, Cummins) | Holden Commodore VS |
| 7 | L1 | Wayne Gardner Neil Crompton | Wayne Gardner Racing (Coca-Cola, Donut King) | Holden Commodore VS | 36 | L2 | Neil Schembri Ian Luff | Schembri Motorsport (Gearbox Motorsport) | Holden Commodore VS |
| 9 | L1 | Alan Jones Scott Pruett Jason Bright | Alan Jones Racing (Komatsu) | Ford Falcon EL | 37 | L2 | Alan Taylor Bill Attard Stephen Bell | Alan Taylor Racing (The Xerox Shop) | Holden Commodore VP |
| 10 | L1 | Mark Larkham Andrew Miedecke | Larkham Motorsport (Mitre 10) | Ford Falcon EL | 38 | S1 | Mark Poole Tony Scott | James Rosenberg Racing (Gawler Farm Machinery, John Deere) | Holden Commodore VS |
| 11 | L1 | Larry Perkins Russell Ingall | Perkins Engineering (Castrol) | Holden Commodore VS | 39 | L2 | Chris Smerdon Charlie Cox | Challenge Motorsport (Vittoria Coffee) | Holden Commodore VS |
| 12 | L2 | Bruce Williams Paul Gover | Robert Smith Racing (Simoco Radio Communications) | Holden Commodore VS | 40 | L2 | Michael Hart Peter Lawrence | Michael Hart Motorsport (SMC Pneumatics) | Holden Commodore VR |
| 13 | L2 | Ryan McLeod Darren Pate | John Faulkner Racing (OAMPS Insurance, Bankwest) | Holden Commodore VR | 41 | L2 | Garry Willmington Bill Sieders | Emerzidis Motorsport (Simon's Earthworks) | Holden Commodore VR |
| 14 | L2 | Malcolm Stenniken Peter Gazzard | Malcolm Stenniken Racing (Disc Brakes Australia) | Holden Commodore VS | 44 | L2 | Mal Rose Kevin Burton | Mal Rose Racing (Fairfax Community Classifieds) | Holden Commodore VS |
| 15 | L1 | Greg Murphy Craig Lowndes | Holden Racing Team (Holden, Mobil 1) | Holden Commodore VS | 45 | L1 | Darren Hossack Steven Ellery | Gibson Motorsport (Wynn's) | Holden Commodore VS |
| 16 | L2 | Melinda Price Kerryn Brewer | Perkins Engineering (Castrol) | Holden Commodore VS | 46 | L1 | John Faulkner Win Percy | John Faulkner Racing (Betta Electrical, Fisher and Paykel) | Holden Commodore VS |
| 17 | L1 | Dick Johnson John Bowe | Dick Johnson Racing (Shell Helix) | Ford Falcon EL | 47 | S1 | John Trimbole Tomas Mezera | Daily Planet Racing (Bottle Magic) | Holden Commodore VS |
| 18 | L1 | Steven Johnson Craig Baird | Dick Johnson Racing (Shell Helix) | Ford Falcon EL | 49 | S1 | Greg Crick Peter Fitzgerald | Greg Crick Motorsport (Ericsson, Alcair Air Conditioning) | Holden Commodore VS |
| 20 | L2 | Ian Palmer John English | Palmer Promotions (Contrabart Trade Exchange) | Holden Commodore VS | 54 | L1 | Anthony Tratt Paul Stokell Peter Bradbury | Wayne Gardner Racing (Toll, Coca-Cola) | Holden Commodore VS |
| 21 | L2 | Brian Walden Steve Williams | Walden Motorsport (unsponsored) | Holden Commodore VP | 58 | L2 | Peter O'Brien Brian Callaghan, Jr. Ron Barnacle | O'Brien Automotive (Everlast Automotive) | Holden Commodore VR |
| 23 | L2 | Ray Hislop Tim Briggs | Ray Hislop Motorsport (Skilled Group) | Ford Falcon EF | 62 | L2 | Wayne Russell Ric Shaw | Novocastrian Motorsport (Union Steel, Koala Clothing) | Holden Commodore VS |
| 24 | S1 | Paul Romano Allan Grice | Romano Racing (Bridgestone) | Holden Commodore VS | 74 | L2 | Kevin Heffernan Danny Osborne | PACE Racing (Price Attack, Colourscan Printing) | Holden Commodore VS |
| 25 | L1 | Tony Longhurst Charlie O'Brien | Longhurst Racing (Castrol) | Ford Falcon EL | 79 | L2 | Mike Conway Gavin Monaghan | Conway Racing (Cadillac Film Productions) | Ford Falcon EB |
| 26 | L2 | Peter Doulman John Cotter | Doulman Automotive (Allen's) | Holden Commodore VP | 97 | L1 | Jason Bargwanna Mark Noske | Holden Young Lions (Holden) | Holden Commodore VS |
| 27 | S1 | Terry Finnigan Terry Shiel | Terry Finnigan Racing Team (Sony) | Holden Commodore VS | | | | | |
| Source: |||||||||||
| Icon | Class |
| L1 | Level 1 |
| S1 | Special Level 1 |
| L2 | Level 2 |

## Results

### Top 10 Shootout

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Car | Time |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 05 | Mark Skaife | Holden Racing Team | Holden Commodore VS | 2:10.0397 |
| 2 | 1 | Glenn Seton | Glenn Seton Racing | Ford Falcon EL | 2:10.8120 |
| 3 | 15 | Greg Murphy | Holden Racing Team | Holden Commodore VS | 2:11.0270 |
| 4 | 11 | Larry Perkins | Perkins Engineering | Holden Commodore VS | 2:11.0826 |
| 5 | 97 | Jason Bargwanna | Holden Young Lions | Holden Commodore VS | 2:11.0887 |
| 6 | 9 | Alan Jones | Alan Jones Racing | Ford Falcon EL | 2:11.2317 |
| 7 | 17 | Dick Johnson | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Falcon EL | 2:11.3336 |
| 8 | 46 | John Faulkner | John Faulkner Racing | Holden Commodore VS | 2:11.4114 |
| 9 | 18 | Steven Johnson | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Falcon EL | 2:11.6200 |
| 10 | 7 | Wayne Gardner | Wayne Gardner Racing | Holden Commodore VS | 2:12.8269 |

### Race

| Pos | Class | No | Drivers | Team | Car | Laps | Time/Retired | Grid |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | L1 | 11 | Larry Perkins Russell Ingall | Perkins Engineering | Holden Commodore VS | 161 | 6:21:55.5483 | 4 |
| 2 | L1 | 34 | Steven Richards Jim Richards | Garry Rogers Motorsport | Holden Commodore VS | 161 | +11.0995 | 11 |
| 3 | L1 | 10 | Mark Larkham Andrew Miedecke | Larkham Motor Sport | Ford Falcon EL | 161 | +2:01.7408 | 12 |
| 4 | L1 | 18 | Steven Johnson Craig Baird | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Falcon EL | 158 | +3 laps | 9 |
| 5 | L1 | 46 | John Faulkner Win Percy | John Faulkner Racing | Holden Commodore VS | 154 | +7 laps | 8 |
| 6 | L1 | 45 | Darren Hossack Steven Ellery | Gibson Motorsport | Holden Commodore VS | 154 | +7 laps | 15 |
| 7 | L2 | 14 | Malcolm Stenniken Peter Gazzard | Malcolm Stenniken | Holden Commodore VS | 154 | +7 laps | 33 |
| 8 | S1 | 3 | Steve Reed Trevor Ashby | Lansvale Smash Repairs | Holden Commodore VS | 153 | +8 laps | 18 |
| 9 | L2 | 36 | Neil Schembri Ian Luff | Schembri Motorsport | Holden Commodore VS | 153 | +8 laps | 30 |
| 10 | S1 | 27 | Terry Finnigan Terry Shiel | Terry Finnigan | Holden Commodore VS | 153 | +8 laps | 17 |
| 11 | L1 | 9 | Alan Jones Scott Pruett Jason Bright | Alan Jones Racing | Ford Falcon EL | 153 | +8 laps | 6 |
| 12 | L2 | 16 | Melinda Price Kerryn Brewer | Perkins Engineering | Holden Commodore VS | 152 | +9 laps | 41 |
| 13 | L2 | 44 | Mal Rose Kevin Burton | Mal Rose Racing | Holden Commodore VS | 150 | +11 laps | 27 |
| 14 | S1 | 49 | Greg Crick Peter Fitzgerald | Greg Crick Motorsport | Holden Commodore VS | 150 | +11 laps | 14 |
| 15 | L2 | 20 | Ian Palmer John English | Palmer Promotions | Holden Commodore VS | 146 | +15 laps | 36 |
| 16 | L2 | 21 | Brian Walden Steve Williams | Walden Racing | Holden Commodore VP | 144 | +16 laps | 37 |
| 17 | L2 | 39 | Chris Smerdon Charlie Cox | Challenge Motorsport | Holden Commodore VS | 143 | +17 laps | 25 |
| 18 | L2 | 26 | Peter Doulman John Cotter | Doulman Automotive | Holden Commodore VP | 139 | +22 laps | 21 |
| 19 | L2 | 74 | Kevin Heffernan Danny Osborne | PACE Racing | Holden Commodore VS | 135 | +26 laps | 24 |
| NC | L2 | 40 | Michael Hart Peter Lawrence | Michael Hart | Holden Commodore VR | 119 | +42 laps | 40 |
| NC | L2 | 37 | Alan Taylor Bill Attard Stephen Bell | Alan Taylor Racing | Holden Commodore VP | 110 | +51 laps | 38 |
| DNF | L2 | 62 | Wayne Russell Ric Shaw | Novocastrian Motorsport | Holden Commodore VS | 126 | Crash | 34 |
| DNF | L1 | 1 | Glenn Seton David Parsons | Glenn Seton Racing | Ford Falcon EL | 121 | Tailshaft | 2 |
| DNF | L1 | 25 | Tony Longhurst Charlie O'Brien | Longhurst Racing | Ford Falcon EL | 110 | Throttle cable | 39 |
| DNF | L2 | 58 | Peter O'Brien Brian Callaghan, Jr. Ron Barnacle | O'Brien Automotive | Holden Commodore VR | 109 | Engine | 35 |
| DNF | L2 | 13 | Ryan McLeod Darren Pate | John Faulkner Racing | Holden Commodore VR | 101 | Differential | 22 |
| DNF | L2 | 28 | Kevin Waldock John Smith | Playscape Racing | Ford Falcon EF | 92 | Loose Wheel | 29 |
| DNF | L1 | 7 | Wayne Gardner Neil Crompton | Wayne Gardner Racing | Holden Commodore VS | 89 | Engine | 10 |
| DNF | L2 | 79 | Mike Conway Gavin Monaghan | Cadillac Productions | Ford Falcon EB | 79 | Gearbox | 28 |
| DNF | S1 | 38 | Mark Poole Tony Scott | James Rosenberg Racing | Holden Commodore VS | 74 | Gearbox | 19 |
| DNF | S1 | 24 | Paul Romano Allan Grice | Romano Racing | Holden Commodore VS | 69 | Crash | 20 |
| DNF | L2 | 23 | Ray Hislop Tim Briggs | Ray Hislop | Ford Falcon EF | 62 | Crash | 26 |
| DNF | L2 | 41 | Garry Willmington Bill Sieders | Garry Willmington Performance | Holden Commodore VR | 61 | Engine | 32 |
| DNF | L1 | 05 | Peter Brock Mark Skaife | Holden Racing Team | Holden Commodore VS | 52 | Engine | 1 |
| DNF | L2 | 12 | Bruce Williams Paul Gover | Robert Smith Racing | Holden Commodore VS | 46 | Steering | 31 |
| DNF | L2 | 33 | Bob Pearson Allan McCarthy | Pro-Duct Motorsport | Holden Commodore VS | 43 | Driveline | 23 |
| DNF | L1 | 15 | Craig Lowndes Greg Murphy | Holden Racing Team | Holden Commodore VS | 38 | Crash | 3 |
| DNF | S1 | 47 | (John Trimbole) Tomas Mezera | Daily Planet Racing | Holden Commodore VS | 25 | Crash | 13 |
| DNF | L1 | 17 | (Dick Johnson) John Bowe | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Falcon EL | 17 | Crash | 7 |
| DNF | L1 | 54 | (Peter Bradbury) Paul Stokell (Anthony Tratt) | Wayne Gardner Racing | Holden Commodore VS | 16 | Engine | 16 |
| DNS | L1 | 97 | (Jason Bargwanna) (Mark Noske) | Holden Young Lions | Holden Commodore VS | | Crash in Warm-Up | 5 |
| Source: |||||||||

The names of drivers who did not drive in the actual race are shown in the above table within brackets.

## Statistics

* Provisional pole position (Fastest in Qualifying) - #97 Jason Bargwanna - 2:10.9216
* Pole position (Fastest in Top 10 Shootout)- #05 Mark Skaife - 2:10.0397
* Fastest race lap - #11 Larry Perkins - 2:12.3398 (new lap record)
* Winners' average speed - 157.14 km/h (V8 Supercar record)
* Most laps led - Perkins/Ingall - 80
